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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Aztec Art : Aztec Lava Sculpture
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Aztec Lava Sculpture - PF.5807
Origin: Mexico
Circa: 1200
AD
to 1600
AD
Dimensions:
9.25" (23.5cm) high
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Medium: Volcanic Stone
$6,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The Aztec civilization is perhaps the most
celebrated of the ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
Their empire stretched throughout northern
Mexico and was surpassed in size only by that of
the Incans. Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico
City) was the center of their religious and
political systems. The city was composed of a
group of island located in the center of Lake
Texcoco, earning it the nickname “Venice of the
New World.” By the time the Spanish
Conquistadors arrived in the early 16th Century,
led by the infamous Hernan Cortes, Tenochtitlan
was by far larger than any city they could have
seen in Europe. Today, the Aztec are
remembered for their grand temple complex
ruins outside of Mexico City, for their intricate
calendar system, and for the few examples of
their art that survive today. This carved lava
figure, probably representing a god, indicated by
the elaborate headdress, demonstrates their
developed aesthetical tastes and the skill of their
artists. Working with an incredibly porous and
delicate material, the forgotten sculptor turned
this rock into a divine image that outlasted the
civilization itself.
- (PF.5807)
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